Illuminated push button assembly



1967 1'. DZIERZBIC'KI ETAL 3,

ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON ASSEMBLY Filed April 15, 1966 36 3 FIGZ lllll AAl-llllll 54G INVENTORS TADEUSZ DZIERZBICKI JOHN H. WILLIAMS y Jum QM w'raw ATTORNEYS United States, Patent 3,358,111 ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON ASSEMBLY Tadeusz Dzierzbicki, Cary, and John H. Williams, Barrington, Ill., assignors to Oak Electro/Netics Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 542,831 11 Claims. (Cl. 200-167) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background 09 the invention Push button switches of the character described herein are often arranged in a plurality of adjacent rows to form a bank of push buttons which comprise the control panel for a computer or the like. It is desirable to provide means for illuminating the switches to permit better observation of indicia on the push button heads. Each push button head is usually formed of translucent or transparent plastic material so that the light emanating from the associated lamp passes through the body of the push button to set out markings imprinted thereon. Present illuminated push button switches are comprised of numerous complicated components, resulting in large oversized push buttons which necessitate oversized banks that require too much space. In addition, such banks are hard to assemble and the illuminating lamps are difficult to replace.

a The general object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a lighted push button switch construction which is sturdy, compact, efficient, easily assembled and which employs a minimum number of components.

; It is a feature of this invention to provide a push button switch construction which is readily. adaptable for employment with a plurality of push buttons arranged in a bank, with one illuminating lamp provided for each button.

I It is another feature of this invention to provide a push button switch construction wherein a substantial portion of the body of the push button itself is offset from one push rod and in registry with a subjacent illuminating lamp thereby permitting a more compact unit.

. It is a further feature of this invention to provide a push button switch of thecharacter described wherein the push buttons are transparent or translucent and are removable from the push rod to allow front access to the subjacent illuminating lamps.

It is still another feature of this invention to provide a push button switch of the character described including a snap-in light socket which permits easy assembly into a front supporting panel, and wherein the socket itself may be utilized as a center support for a rear supporting panel to maintain the latter in a spaced relation to the front panel.

It is yet a further feature of this invention to provide a push button assembly of the character described including efiicient and easily assembled light-shielding means between the buttons in a bank thereof.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a control panel for computers, or the like, having a bank" of push buttons embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of two push button switch assemblies embodying the invention, with portions of the assemblies in section to facilitate the illustration;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an illuminating lamp positioned in a lamp receiving socket, with a portion of the socket cut away; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the lamp receiving socket as in FIG. 4 with the illuminating lamp removed therefrom.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawing and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated herein as embodied in a bank B (FIG. 1) of illuminated push button switches comprising the control panel for a computer or like control center C. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the push button switch construction of this invention generally comprises an inverted channel-shaped front supporting panel or plate 10 having a mounting web portion 10a and leg portions 10b depending downwardly along each edge of the mounting web, and a spaced generally parallel rear supporting panel or plate 11. A plurality of push rods 12 extend transversely through slots in the supporting panels and are mounted for reciprocating movement relative to the supporting panels. A translucent push button 16 is secured to the outer end of each push rod above the front face of the supporting panel 10, and a switch actuator, generally designated 18, is secured to the other end of each push rod 12. A compression coil spring 20 embraces each push rod 12 and has one end bearing against the rear supporting panel 11 and has its other end bearing against a shoulder portion 22 of the push rod 12 to urge the respective push button 16 upwardly away from the front supporting panel 10. As a push button is depressed in the directon of arrow A (FIG. 2) the respective push rod 12 is moved axially therewith against spring 20 to bring switch actuator 18 into engagement with appropriate electrical contacts. Since the electrical contacts may take any desired form, they are not illustrated in the drawings. When the push button 16 is released, spring 20 will urge push rod 12 and push button 16 in a direction opposite that of arrow A to their normally elevated position. A spring type catch means, generally designated 23 and which is well known in the art as a push-push release, holds the push rod depressed and releases the push rod when the held button is successively depressed whereby successive depressions of the push rod will cause the rod to be held, then released, held, then released, and so on. Other known catch means, such as a latch and release mechanism may be employed.

ton 16. The socket is provided with an open lamp receiving end 24a for receiving a lamp 26. The open end faces the push button 16 so that the lamp is in registry with the offset light transmitting push button. The offset push button 16 and the receiving socket subjacent to and in registry therewith provide an illuminated push button construction within the peripheral bounds of the light transmitting push button itself without employing a complicated push button construction as was heretofore done.

In order to prevent the lamp 26, positioned in the socket 24, from interfering with the reciprocating movementof the push button toward and away from the supporting panel 10, the push button is provided with a bottom wall 28 having a recess 30 which is in registry with the socket and which is of a size to accommodate the lamp 26 positioned in the socket so that the lamp extends upwardly into the recess 30 when the push button is depressed in the direction of arrow A. Therefore, not only are the lateral dimensions of the push button assembly made compact by providing an offset push button, but the depth dimensions ofthe entire push button construction itself are made compact by permitting the illuminating lamp to extend into the light transmitting push button when depressed toward the front supporting panel 10;

The push buttons 16 snugly, but releasably, embrace the upper ends of the push rods 12 so that the buttons can be removed from the push rods to permit direct front access to the lamps 26 and the lamp receiving sockets 24 for replacement or repair thereof. The push buttons are provided with side walls 34 having recesses 36 to provide a means by which the push buttons may easily be grasped to remove the buttons from the push rods 12.

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, a means is provided by which the lamp receiving sockets 24 may be snapped into an aperture 38 (FIG. 2) in the front supporting panel 10 and tightly held therein by insertion of a lamp into the socket. The socket is comprised of a generally rectangular hollow body portion which includes two pair of opposite side walls 42a, 42b. Each of the opposite side walls 42a (FIG. 4) is provided with an outwardly extending flange 42a along its upper edge forming top abutting surfaces 43a and side abutting surfaces 43b for engagement with the underside of the front channel-shaped supporting panel 10, as shown in FIG. 3 and further described below. Each of the opposite side walls 42b (FIG. is provided with a pluralityof fingers 44 which extend upwardly beyond the abutting surface 43a on top of the flanges 42a of side walls 42a to locate the socket in position while lamp 26 is being inserted therein as hereinafter described. Each of the side walls 42b is also provided with at least one resilient finger 44 which is provided with a lip 48 extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with the top surface of the web portion a of the channel-shaped front supporting panel 10.

' Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, to assemble a lamp receiving socket to the channel-shaped front supporting panel ltl the opposite resilient fingers 44' are deflected inwardly in relation to the socket, so that they can pass through the aperture 38 in the front supporting panel 10. Movement of the socket into aperture 38 from the underside of panel 10 causes the abutting surfaces 43a of flanges 42a to bear against the undersurface of the web portion 10a of the front supporting plate. The lip 48 then resiliently snaps outwardly so that it abuts against the top surface of the web portion 10a of the front support plate. In this position, the socket is embraced by the aperture 38 of the front support plate and is prevented from falling through the plate by lip 48. The side abutting surfaces 43b of flanges 42a bear against the inside of the leg portions 10b of the supporting plate 10 to prevent lateral movement of the socket relative to plate 10.

On insertion of a lamp 26 into the lamp receiving socket 24,.the resilient fingers 44', being laterally defiectable, are wedged between the lamp and the adjacent walls of aperture 38. The insertion of the lamp makes it impossible to deflect fingers 44' enough to remove the socket from aperture 38.

Each lamp 26 has a metal contact strip 52 (FIG. 4) secured thereabout for engagement with terminal arms 54 mounted in the interior cavity of the socket 24. The terminal arms 54 have portions 54a extending through the base of the socket and have a small aperture 54b to which leads 56 (FIG. 3) may be secured to provide current to the lamps.

move toward the supporting panel and thereby confine the light emanating from the lamps to the associated button.

In the embodiment illustrated, each socket includes a mounting portion 58 (FIG. 4) at its base which engages rear supporting panel 11 and may be secured thereto as by a screw 59. The mounting portion may be used to maintain the rear supporting panel-11 in a spaced generally parallel relation to the front supporting panel 10*.

Referring to FIG. 2, a light shield, generally designated 60, is provided on the front-panel 10 and has plurality of walls 60a, 60b surrounding the lamps 26. The. walls 60a, 60b preferably take the form of thinelongated strips which extend outwardly from the front panel 10. Strips 60a are transverse to and interlocked with strips 60b. The strips 60a, 6012 are spaced to define generally square recesses to accommodate the .push buttons when the buttons panel; a push button assembly including a push rod ex tending transversely through said supporting panel and mounted for reciprocating axial movement relative to the supporting panel, said push rodhaving a push but ton secured to one end thereof, said push button having a light transmitting body a substantial portion of which projects to one .side of said push rod and is movable with said push rod toward and away from said supporting panel; a lamp receiving socket having means mounting it in said supporting panel adjacent said one side of the push rod and having a lamp receiving end facing said push button whereby said lamp receiving socket is behind said light transmitting body; and a light shield mounted on saidsupporting panel and having walls surroundingsaid lamp, saidwalls extending from said supporting panel toward said push button and being spaced to define a re cess to accommodate the push button when moved toward said supporting panel, confining the light emanating from said lamp to its associated push button.

-2. In an illuminated push button switch: a supporting panel; a push buttonassembly including a push rod-extending transversely through said supporting panel and mounted for reciprocating axial movement relative to the supporting panel, said push rod having a push button se- We claim:

1. In an illuminated push button switch: a supporting cured to one end thereof, said push button having alight transmitting body a substantial portion of which projects to one side of said push rod and is movablewithsaid push rod toward and away from said supporting panel; and a lamp receiving socket having means mounting it in said supporting panel adjacent said one side of the push rod and having a lamp receiving end facing said push button whereby said lamp receiving socketis behind said light transmitting body, .said means mounting said lamp receiving socket in said supporting panel-including walls defining an aperture through said supporting panel to'receive and loosely embrace said lamp receiving socket, and wherein said lamp receiving socket is provided with resilient wall means laterally deflectable against at least one of the walls of said aperture whereby a lamp in said lamp receiving socket wedges said resilient wall means against the walls of said aperture. 7

3. The push button assembly of claim 2 wherein a portion of said lamp receiving wall means of said socket include at least one resilient finger laterally defiectable against at least one of the walls of said aperture.

4. The push button assembly of claim 2 wherein said supporting panel is provided with a front surface facing said .push button and wherein said wall meansof said lamp receiving socket is provided with-a peripheral flange. portion extending laterally therefrom and in abutment with the front face of said supporting panel to prevent said lamp receiving socket from falling through the aper-' ture in said supporting panel.

5. In an illuminated push button switch: a supporting panel; a push button assembly including a push rod extending transversely through said supporting panel and mounted for reciprocating axial movement relative to the supporting panel, said push rod having a push button secured to one end thereof, said push button having a light transmitting body movable with said push rod toward and away from said supporting panel; and a lamp receiving socket having means mounting it in said supporting panel adjacent said push rod and having an open lamp receiving end facing said push button whereby said lamp receiving socket is behind said light transmitting body, said lamp receiving socket beng provided with a mounting end opposite its open lamp receiving end on the backside of said supporting panel and spaced from said supporting panel and including means for securing a second supporting panel to the mounting end of said lamp receiving socket.

6. In an illuminated push button switch construction which is comprised of a supporting front panel adapted to mount a push button assembly for reciprocating movement relative to said supporting front panel toward and away from an illuminating lamp mounting in said front panel, the improvement which includes a mounting means for mounting said illuminating lamp in said supporting front panel to permit easy assembly thereof, said mounting means including wall means defining an aperture through said supporting front panel, and a lamp receiving socket loosely received by said aperture, said lamp receiving socket being provided with resilient wall means laterally deflectable against at least one of the walls of said aperture in said supporting front panel whereby a lamp in said lamp receiving socket wedges said resilient Wall means against the walls of said aperture.

7. The push button switch construction of claim 6 wherein a portion of the wall means of said lamp receiving socket is comprised of at least one resilient finger later-ally deflectable against at least one of the walls of said aperture.

8. The push button switch construction of claim 6 wherein said lamp receiving socket is provided with an open lamp receiving end facing said push button and including a peripheral flange portion extending away from said open end in abutment with said front supporting panel to prevent said lamp receiving socket from falling through the aperture in said supporting front panel.

9. The push button construction of claim 6 wherein said lamp receiving socket is provided with an open lamp receiving end on one side of said supporting front panel facing said push button and wherein said lamp receiving socket extends away from the other side of said supporting front panel and includes a mounting end to which a rear supporting panel may be mounted to maintain said rear supporting panel in spaced relation to said supporting front panel.

10. In an illuminated push button switch construction of the character described in which a supporting front panel is adapted to mount a push button assembly for reciprocating movement relative to said supporting front panel toward and away from an illuminating lamp mounted in said supporting front panel in registry with said push button, the improvement which includes a light shield mounted on said supporting front panel and having walls surrounding said illuminating lamp, said walls extending away from said supporting front panel and being spaced to define a recess to accommodate said push button when moved toward said supporting front panel.

11. The push button switch of claim 10 wherein said spaced surrounding walls of said light shield extend away from said supporting front panel a distance at least equal to that between the supporting front panel and the push button.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1964 Baldasare 200--167 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,358,111 December 12, 1967 Tadeusz Dzierzbicki et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 40, beginning with "2. In an illuminated" cancel all to and including "walls of said aperture." in line 68, same column 4 and insert instead We claim:

1. In an illuminated push button switch: a suporting panel; a push button assembly including a push rod extending transverselj through said supporting panel and mounted for reciprocating axial movement relative to the supporting panel, said push rod having a push button secured to one end thereof, said push button having a light transmitting body a substantial portion of which projects to one side of said push rod and is movable with said push rod toward and away from said supporting panel; a lamp receiving socket having means mounting it in said supporting panel adjacent said one side of the push rod and having a lamp receiving end facing said push button whereby said lamp receiving socket is behind said light transmitting body; and a light shield mounted on said supporting panel and having walls surrounding said lamp, said walls extending from said supporting panel toward said push button and being spaced to define a recess to accommodate the push button when moved toward said supporting panel, confining the light emanating from said lamp to its associated push button.

2. In an illuminated push button switch: a supporting panel; a push button assembly including a push rod extending transversely through said supporting panel and mounted for reciprocating axial movement relative to the supporting panel, said push rod having a push button secured to one end thereof, sai push button having a light transmitting body a substantial said lamp receiving socket, and wherein said lamp receiving socket is provided with resilient wall means laterally deflectable against at least one of the walls of said aperture whereby a lamp in said lamp receiving socket wedges said resilient wall means against the walls of said aperture.

3. The push button assembly of claim 2 wherein a portion of said wall means of said lamp receiving socket include at least one resilient finger laterally deflectable against at least one of the walls of said aperture.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of January 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN AN ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON SWITCH: A SUPPORTING CURED TO ONE END THEREOF, SAID PUSH BUTTON HAVING A LIGHT TRANSMITTING BODY A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF WHICH PROJECTS TO ONE SIDE OF SAID PUSH ROD AND IS MOVABLE WITH SAID PUSH ROD TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORTING PANEL; AND A LAMP RECEIVING SOCKET HAVING MEANS MOUNTING IT IN SAID SUPPORTING PANEL ADJACENT SAID ONE SIDE OF THE PUSH ROD AND HAVING A LAMP RECEIVING END FACING SAID PUSH BUTTON WHEREBY SAID LAMP RECEIVING SOCKET IS BEHIND SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING BODY, SAID MEANS MOUNTING SAID LAMP 